Ohio State 40, TCU 28: Too many mistakes cost Frogs

ARLINGTON, TX - The momentum was all TCU’s until it wasn’t. Carrying a 14-13 lead into the second half, TCU looked to expand upon their lead. After trading punts, TCU started their second drive of the third quarter from their own 48. Three plays later they were in the endzone. A big screen pass to Jarrison Stewart took the Frogs to the 16 yardline of Ohio State, where Darius Anderson ran for his second touchdown of the day. Jonathan Song’s extra point put TCU up 21-13, with all the momentum on TCU’s side.

But then things slowly, then quickly, started to slip away from the Frogs. After more trading of punts, Ohio State finally got their big play touchdown, on a 63-yard screen play to Parris Campbell brought the Buckeyes to within two. Ohio State went for two, and Haskins’ pass fell incomplete.

Clinging to a 21-19 lead, TCU’s offense faced a 3rd and 5 on their own 30. A botched shovel pass resulted in an Ohio State interception, which defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones took all the way to the house for an Ohio State touchdown.

Now down 26-21, TCU tried a trick play on the ensuing kickoff. Turpin’s pass back to Jalen Reagor would have been a touchdown, had it not been an illegal forward pass.

So, instead of going up 28-26, TCU found themselves starting from their own 4 yardline. Another three and out led to a TCU punt. Nunez would drop the snap, the punt would be blocked, and Ohio State started with the ball on TCU’s 25. Two plays later they were back in the endzone, this time on a 24-yard pass to KJ Hill, putting Ohio State up 33-21.

The Frogs weren’t finished, though. In need of a big play, Shawn Robinson delivered. A 51-yard bomb to Tre’Vontae Hights got the Frogs right back in the game, pulling them to within five, 33-28.

Ohio State started pounding the ball as the game moved into the fourth quarter, and the Frogs’ defense looked exhausted. A 5-yard touchdown run from Dwayne Haskins with 12:30 left in the contest put TCU down 40-28, with the game seemingly slipping away.

Forced to punt with 8:58 left in the game, TCU saw their chances slipping away. And Ohio State ran the ball, and the clock, down until a comeback would require a miracle. The Frogs eventually got a stop, with 3:31 left in the game. But a Shawn Robinson interception ended TCU’s chances for a comeback.

Robinson finished the game 24-40 for 308 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions. Darius Anderson ran 12 times for 154 yards and two touchdowns.

Ultimately, the two defensive touchdowns for Ohio State, coupled with two TCU touchdowns called back on penalties, were the difference in the contest.

Now 2-1, TCU heads to Austin to face 2-1 Texas, Once the Longhorns are finished shelling USC.